-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- It has been a rocky couple of years for the people of Egypt . Since the 2011 revolution , the economy has tanked , street protests are an almost daily occurrence and the political situation remains volatile .

However , a handful of young Egyptians have found that the best way to take a stand against the turmoil is with stand-up comedy .

`` We are like a little beam of sunlight , coming through and reminding people , ` Do n't worry ! When this cloud passes , it will be brighter . It will be happier , ' '' says Rami Borai , a comedian in one of Egypt 's first home-grown comedy troupes , Hezb El Comedy .

The group , whose name means `` The Comedy Party , '' was formed in 2009 by Hashim Al Gahry , who admits he started up with `` zero capital . '' Al Gahry and some friends pooled their savings , and started marketing the group through social media . When they 're not performing , Hezb El Comedy teaches the art of stand-up to other aspiring comics , instructing them on things like timing and body language .

`` We 're not the funniest people in the world , but it 's the experience that has put us in a position to give them advice and tell them , ` These are our mistakes , and this is what you can do to avoid what we did , ' '' says Al Gahry .

Read more : Book shows collection of Iran 's political cartoons

Other Arab nations are similarly investing in grassroots comedy . In Qatar , a few young comics have come together to form SUCQ -LRB- an acronym for Stand Up Comedy Qatar -RRB- .

`` It 's an American art . We took it from the Americans . We have reshaped it to adapt to our culture and society and people , '' says Hamad Al Amri , 24 , a comedian who is also a banker by day . Mohamed Kamal , who also performs stand-up with SUCQ , notes that given Qatar 's political climate , there are limits to what he can joke about .

`` We ca n't talk about politics , or very sensitive topics , like sex or religion , '' he notes .

For those comics in the Middle East who do n't censor themselves , comedy can be a risky business .

Earlier this month , Egyptian satirist Bassem Youssef made headlines after he was charged for mocking both Islam and Egypt 's president , Mohamed Morsy . Other comics in the region have faced similar fates . Sami Fehri , a Tunisian producer of a political puppet show , was imprisoned for corruption charges , and Saudi blogger Raif Badawi was jailed last year for mocking religious figures .

Read more : Syria 's `` freedom graffiti '' amid devastation of war goes viral

Al Gahry admits that as a comic , he must proceed with caution .

`` You have to push the limit , but you have to be very careful , '' he says . Borai , meanwhile , finds humour in the prospect of facing arrest .

`` If I ever read a newspaper that said , ` Ramy was indicted , ' I would say , ` Yo , mom , this is it ! ' I 'll fly out of here , but I would be like , ' I got kicked out of my country for being too damn funny ! ' ''

@highlight

A handful of young Egyptians find relief from the country 's turmoil in stand-up comedy

@highlight

The group , Hezb El Comedy , also teaches the art of stand-up to other aspiring comics

@highlight

Young people in Qatar have also started a stand-up comedy group

@highlight

For comics in the Middle East who do n't censor themselves , comedy can be a risky business